Therapeutic concussion vibrator



April 5, 1949. T. B. KORPELA 2,466,659

THERAPEUTIC CONCUSSION VIBRATOR Filed June 16, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Yw/s/M April 5, 1949. T. B. KORPELA THERAPEUTIC CONCUSSION VIBRATOR Filed June 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1 u I INVENTOR.

I m a I Fig. 6

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 Toivo B. Korpela, Chicago, 111., assignor of onehalf 'to Karl H. V'artia, Chicago, 111.

Application June 16, 1945, Serial No. 599,861

2 Claims. 1

"My invention relates to mechanical means for stimulating nerve function in the human body, particularly in the region of the spine, which contains the main nerve trunk system of the body.

Certain schools of healing are based to varying degree upon the thesis that the chemical functioning of the human system is controlled to a large extent by electrical impulses originating in the brain or in subordinate nerve centers and that many human ills arise through feeble functioning of the nerves which carry these impulses to all parts of the body. One of the prime causes of nerve 'enfeeblement is the constricting of the passageways through which the nerves must pass, either by mechanical misalignment of the adjacent structure or by chemical precipitation of solid or semi-solid matter in the adjacent tissues. This condition is frequently encountered in the spinal structure because normal human activity requires that the series of vertebrae which form the spine be held upright and relatively rigid throughout the day. The pads of cartilage between the vertebrae are thus subjected to both direct loads due to the weight of the body structure above the pads and to the compressive loads consequent upon the muscular tension which controls the alignment of the vertebrae.

Most of the important nerves of the body leave the spinal cord through passageways in or adjacent to the cartilage pads and are, therefore, subject to constriction if these pads yield under continued load. Often, there occurs some lateral shifting of vertebrae, which may cause a concentration of load over only a portion of the intervening pads between vertebrae and further contribute to yielding. Furthermore, the nerves controlling the recuperative processes of the pads themselves may be affected by constriction and create a vicious circle in which a flattening cartilage pad automatically weakens its own recuperative powers along with those of the organs or structures served by the nerves leaving the spine at the pad in question.

It is an object of my invention to apply a form of deep vibration as a means of stimulating the recuperative processes of these pads, as well as elsewhere in the body. Another object of my invention is to provide a device for applying vibration that is freely moveable over the area being treated without requiring a relaxing of applied pressure while shifting the device. A further object is to provide means for creating a rocking effect in the area being treated. This effect is particularly important in connection with treatment of the spine, in that a rocking motion applied to the vertebrae especially helpful in revitalizing the cartilage pads between the vertebrae. For a, description of the means by which the above objects are attained, reference is had to the drawings.

Fig. .1 is a perspective View illustrating my invention in use upon a patient.

Fig. 2 is aside elevationof the device, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the ,plunger casing, the motor not being shown since it may be of any type which will serve the purpose andforms no part of my invention.

Fig. '5 is a part section upon the "line '5-5 of Fig. '4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation with the casing partly broken away, of an alternate form of my invention.

Fig. '7 is a part section upon the line |--l of Fig. 6.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts in the several views.

In the belt driven model, so described to distinguish from the integral unit construction of the alternate form, the motor I through the belt 2 and suitable pulleys drives a camshaft 3 mounted within the housing 4. Riding upon the eccentric pins 5 of the camshaft are, preferably, four rocker arms 6, each respective rocker arm being pivoted at respective pivot point 1 to a respective rigid post 8 and connected at a respective location 9 by a corresponding pin and slot connection to a corresponding plunger l0. Each rocker arm is held against the camshaft by a corresponding spring II. To the lower end of each plunger [0, which moves within a corresponding guide I2, there is rigidly attached a corresponding spindle l3 on which is mounted for free rotation a corresponding roller I4. Each roller is provided with an annular cushion or tire l5 of rubber or the like. It is obvious that the device may be moved upon these rollers even while substantial pressure is being applied by the operator of the device against the surface being treated. The several rollers and their respective mechanisms are disposed in pairs, substantially symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the machine and eccentric pins 5 are preferably so disposed about the axis of the camshaft that the several plungers will be caused to reciprocated in a sequence alternating from side reciprocated in a sequence alternating from side to side. It can be seen that if the device is used directly over the spine as indicated in Fig. 1, this side-to-side sequence will tend to cause a rocking of the vertebrae directly under the point of application.

In the alternate form shown in Figs. 6 and '7, each plunger I is provided with a corresponding rigidly attached crosshead l6 within which is mounted a corresponding small roller II. This roller rides directly upon the corresponding cam l8 of the camshaft 3 and is held against the cam by the corresponding spring 19 which is mounted around the corresponding plunger guide l2 and which bears against the corresponding crosshead I6. In this modification the motor unit I drives the camshaft by means of gears 20 and 2|.

for a handle as it has been found convenient to operate the machine merely by grasping the motor casing. Obviously a handle may be provided if desired.

I claim:

1. In a therapeutic device, the combination of a camshaft, a driving means for rotating said camshaft, a series of plungers mounted in guiding means at each side of said camshaft for axial movements substantially perpendicular to a plane through the axis of said camshaft, rocker arms connected to said plungers, said rocker arms being operatively associated with said camshaft so as to cause reciprocating motion of said plungers as said camshaft revolves, said plungers having free ends, rollers mounted upon said free ends, and adapted to bear against the surface of a hui t rolling movement in the direction of said rows, In the device as shown, no provision is made man body whereby said device may be moved freely over said surface while the reciprocating movement of said plungers causes a corresponding movement of the tissues beneath said surface, said camshaft being so arranged as to cause the and driving means for causing said plungers to deliver a series of impacts through said rollers to to surface being treated in a sequence alternating from one of said rows to the other.

TOIVO B. KORPE-LA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

